Gigi Hadid Claps Back At Critics Who Claim Her Success Is Down To A Privileged Upbringing

“People say that I don’t deserve to be where I am because I come from this successful family.”

Getty Images, Slaven Vlasic

Having graced hundreds of runways, starred on countless magazine covers and with a cult global following behind her – Gigi Hadid is undoubtedly one of the most famous models to walk the planet.

But that doesn’t stop critics claiming her success is down to privilege with many giving her parents, Mohamed and Yolanda Hadid, the credit.

In response to the widespread criticism, the 23-year-old recently spoke out against fan backlash at the launch of her collaboration with Reebok.

At the Sydney-based event, the model spoke candidly about her upbringing: “People say that I don’t deserve to be where I am because I come from this successful family, but my parents were f***ing hardworking.”

“My dad was a refugee. My mum was on a farm, went to New York, and worked to send money back to her family. They worked their a***s off, and they’ve given me a life because of their hard work, and I work hard to honour that.”

The model added, “I shouldn’t stay in my house because people say, ‘You don’t deserve to be here because they were successful’. That’s not how I consider it in my house.”

Models Gigi and Bella Hadid alongside their father, Mohamed. Getty

On the notion that she found her footing in the modelling industry courtesy of her privileged home life, she continued:”We are all given titles by the world and we are told we’re one thing, and we’re flattened. We’re told that we’re not good enough.”

During the interview, Gigi also took the opportunity to open up about her heritage. Back in March 2017, the model drew criticism after wearing a hijab on the cover of Vogue Arabia – a career moment which left her feeling alienated.

Siblings Gigi, Bella and Anwar Hadid have all followed in their mother Yolanda’s modelling footsteps. Getty

“When I shot the cover, I wasn’t ‘Arab enough’ to be representing those girls, even though I’m half-Palestinian. I’m as Palestinian as I am Dutch,” Gigi explained. “Just because I have blonde hair, I still carry the value of my ancestors, and I appreciate and respect that.”

“I talk about this with my boyfriend [Zayn Malik] too: He’s half-Pakistani, half-English. I feel like when you’re mixed-race, when you come from two different worlds, you get to see how both sides treat each other, and you feel like the bridge of those two sides.”

The model arrived in Australia on Thursday to launch her debut campaign with Reebok just a week after walking the 2018 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show in New York.